Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 17th, 2016 8:08AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Dry and Wind Slabs.

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

A bit of new snow has fallen and freshened up the landscape out there. This new snow has not seen much wind effect yet but caution when it does as it will be sitting on a weak layer of facets on north and/or sun crust on steeper south aspects.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with light flurries possibly. Temperatures in the alpine -8.0. Winds will be light to moderate (35km) from the southwest. Freezing level is at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Very little to no significant avalanche activity observed in the forecast region today.

Snowpack Summary

K-Country region received up to 10cm of snowfall in the past 24 hours at treeline bringing our storm snow total up to about 25 cm in the alpine. Beneath this storm snow is the January 7th facets. This is a layer that has developed as a result of the long period of cold clear weather over mid December up until recently. The winds were pretty light today but picked up a bit today in the afternoon so there exists the potential for some wind slabs at immediately lee of ridge top and cross wind prone slopes.

Problems

Loose Dry

Be very cautious with gully features.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Avoid steep slopes below cornices.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 18th, 2016 2:00PM